During the Real Conference in early May, National Vice-President Gwen Landolt zeroed in on the “feminist indoctrination” of federal judges at the Canadian Education Centre [see “feminism harms women, says president,” The Interim June 1991.]

Canadian Judicial Council

The Canadian Education Centre [CEC] was set up a few years ago by the Canadian Judicial Council to keep judges updated on recent developments in the law.  Judges attending the school can select from a variety of seminars on modern jurisprudence, but this freedom of choice does not apply to the gender equality program, Mrs Landolt reported.

On several occasions over the past year and a half, representatives of REAL Women met with CEO officials to explain their concern with the radical feminist bias of the gender equality program then being developed.  In particular, they criticized Equality and Judicial Neutrality By Sheilah Martin and Kathleen Mahoney a book which was to provide the philosophical basis for the program.  The authors advance the thesis that Canadian law is fundamentally slanted in favour of a capitalist class of white males. 

Although REAL Women pointed out the ominous consequences to the judicial system of this ideological arrangement, whole chapters of Equality and Judicial Neutrality have been included in the CEC’s   gender equality program.

All offers to counterbalance the program with other perspectives have been ruthlessly thrust aside, stated Mrs. Landolt.  The program is “flatly feminist its interpretation; it does not represent education, but can be described accurately as indoctrination in that it appears to be an obvious attempt to manipulate judges into accepting the feminist perspective of the law.”

In a related development REAL Women President Judy Anderson publicly called upon the Canadian Judicial Council to admonish Supreme Court Justice Beverly McLachlin over criticism of criminal laws, on abortion especially those on abortion and prostitution, she claimed they place the burden of social and moral problems “on the backs of women.”

As a result of McLachlin’s remarks made in Calgary in April, REAL Women had filed a complaint with the Judicial Council.  This complaint was rejected in a letter to REAL

Women dated May 9.

Mrs. Anderson underscored the double standard at work in the Judicial Council.  Although it was not hesitated to ensure other judges for advancing political opinions, the Council chose to describe Judge McLachlin’s prejudicial remarks as merely a contribution to  “a greater understanding and sensitivity as to how the criminal law has impacted on women.”

“There is no question that Judge McLachlin’s remarks about the controversial issues on abortion and prostitution are political in content.  Moreover, her views reflect the unique perspective of a special interest group in Canada—-the feminists,” Mrs. Anderson stated.